Fox calls Veteran Exec Suzanne Scott the new CEO

1; Fox News & # 39; parent appointed Suzanne Scott's Chief Executive Officer on Thursday and gave the popular news network and its business its first sole leader since the late Roger Ailes Branch

Scott, with Fox News Channel since 1996, was most recently Co-President of Fox News with David Abernethy. Abernethy, who also runs Fox's own television stations, will return to this job alone. Jay Wallace was named president and editor-in-chief of Fox News, giving him control of the network's editorial activities and reporting to Scott.

The moves came one day after parents announced 21st Century Fox that Lachlan Murdoch will become chairman and CEO (19659009) The Fox News Channel thrived during the Trump administration, as did MSNBC, its ideological opposite during the Prime Time programming. Despite the loss of Bill O'Rilly for sexual misconduct and Megyn Kelly of NBC, Fox's prime-time cast is usually number one on all cable networks. Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham routinely appeal to Trump supporters, while Sean Hannity rules as a vocal defender of Trump and talks to him on the phone on a regular basis.

It was also revealed this week that 21st Century Fox had signed on a $ 10 million settlement with 18 former Fox News Channel employees who had sued the company for racial or gender discrimination

That makes Scott feel guilty and it's hard to see the appointment of a woman for the role Ailes once held to send a message in the #MeToo era.

But she is not a freshman. Scott is well anchored in Fox's culture of how Ailes went from CNBC to the company, and that will surely lead to questions as to whether she was able to improve working conditions. She worked on Greta Van Susteren's program when it aired on Fox, and helped produce the "Outnumbered" program, which aired at noon, and programs by Dana Perino and Martha MacCallum.

Scott, who was not provided for comment in a statement that she is "unbelievably honored and humble to accept this new role."

She will lead Fox as she seeks to maintain her dominance in a market where Newsmax and Sinclair Broadcasting Group become more aggressive conservative audiences

She and Abernethy appointed a new leadership role in Fox's HR department and a new chief adviser, when they were co-presidents. But choosing her and Wallace was a clear sign of how the network operates. Wallace has also been with the Fox News Channel from the start, most recently overseeing the network's news activities. The doctorate will also give him responsibility for forming opinions.

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